Maharashtra’s senior citizens seek policy for elderly

Mumbai, Sep 7 (IANS) Pointing out that the central government declared the National Policy for Older Persons in 1999 but the state government has not declared its policy as yet, a delegation of senior citizens Tuesday urged the governor of Maharashtra to declare the state policy. The delegation, under the the banner of Federation of Senior Citizens’ Organisations, Tuesday met the Governor of Maharashtra K. Sankaranarayanan.

“There are 95 lakh (9.5 million) senior citizens in Maharashtra - of whom 66 percent are poor. Nearly 90 percent do not have social or health security and over 20 percent are lonely and susceptible to threat from criminals,” said President of the Federation Shankar Kinjwadekar.

“There have been growing incidents of violence and harassment of elderly people and the act would safeguard the affected,” he added.

The delegation demanded that the government form a state council of senior citizens for effective coordination on the problems of senior citizens.

“There has to be full implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, setting up of day care centres for the elderly and improvement in the conditions of old age homes in the state,” Kinjwadekar said.

The governor assured the delegation that he would take up the issues with Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.